Australia's first demo derby

The novel concept of a car race where crashing was encouraged and the winner was the last car still running proved a huge hit with fans when the idea was first trialed in the early '60s.

Story: James Cockington

February 1964 saw the staging of Australia’s first ever demolition derby at Adelaide’s Rowley Park speedway.

This milestone event drew the largest crowd ever seen at the Adelaide track. Once promoter Kym Bonython (below left) had squeezed in 20,000 paying customers, about twice his normal attendance, he was forced to lock the gates and call the police to control those still queuing on the streets. He recalls sitting there that night praying that the stepped terraces wouldn’t collapse under the weight of humanity.

The competitors, mostly driving pre-loved Yank Tanks, were largely attracted by the £400 prizemoney, a fortune in those pre-decimal days. With 11 cars still running after 37 minutes, the event had to be abandoned when hundreds of overexcited kiddies invaded the track.

I know, I was one of them.

Tags: speedway